Ticker for November 1, 2011

                
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November 1, 2011   November 1, 2011   November 1, 2011   November 1, 2011


Rains Ease Drought Woes During October

September brought Oklahomans relief from the heat and October did its part with a
bit of drought relief. The drought conditions remain quite severe across the
state despite the rain, however. The statewide average rainfall total was 2.89
inches, about a half of an inch below normal and the 52nd wettest October since
1895. The month was also a bit on the warm side at more than a half a degree
above normal. The statewide average temperature of 61.9 degrees ranks as the 53rd
warmest October on record. The rains came at a very opportune time for Oklahoma?s
wheat crop, already in jeopardy due to the drought, and eased dangerous wildfire
conditions. Combined with September, the fall?s first two months fell 2.64 inches
below normal to rank as the 36th driest on record. The season was also off to a
cool start with a September-October statewide average of 66.4 degrees, the 46th
coolest such period on record and about a half a degree below normal.

October 2011 Mesonet Precipitation Comparison
Climate Div.	Precip. (inches)     Dep. from Norm. (inches)       Rank
Panhandle	      1.03	         -0.48	                 51st Driest
North Central	      2.23	         -0.43	                 52nd Wettest
Northeast	      1.65	         -1.98	                 30th Driest
West Central	      2.69	          0.13	                 42nd Wettest
Central	              3.88	          0.22	                 36th Wettest
East Central	      3.29	         -0.98	                 55th Driest
Southwest	      3.82	          0.84	                 30th Wettest
South Central	      4.52	          0.27	                 37th Wettest
Southeast	      2.70	         -2.26	                 43rd Driest
Statewide	      2.89	         -0.49	                 52nd Wettest

Data from the Oklahoma Mesonet show above normal rainfall amounts, substantial in
some areas, from south central through central Oklahoma. Along that path,
Oklahoma Mesonet stations reported 4-7 inches of rain with widespread totals of
3-4 inches radiating outward. The heaviest rains fell from Jefferson through
eastern Kingfisher and western Logan counties. Unfortunately, some parts of the
state remained significantly below normal after missing a couple of the month?s
rain chances. Much of the Panhandle had less than an inch of rain but did see
a light dusting of snow during the month?s last week. The Mesonet station at
Ketchum Ranch near Duncan led the state with 7.08 inches of rain while Kenton
came in with the least at 0.17 inches. Of the 120 Mesonet stations across the
state, 61 recorded at least 3 inches of rain for the month. October?s highest
temperature of 96 degrees was recorded at Beaver on the third and the lowest,
23 degrees, occurred at three different northeastern locations on the 20th.

October precipitation




October temperature



The January-October statewide average precipitation total finished at 18.84
inches, approximately 13 inches below normal. The state?s driest year on record
was 1910 with an average of 19.04 inches of rainfall. Regnier holds the record
for lowest annual total at an individual station with a total of 6.53 inches
from 1956. The Mesonet station at Hooker has recorded a total of 3.8 inches for
the year thus far.




The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, issued on October 27, still had 55 percent of
the state listed in the exceptional drought category, the worst designation
possible. Virtually the entire state remained in severe-exceptional drought.
The latest climate outlooks for November from the National Weather Service?s
Climate Prediction Center (CPC) indicate an increased chance of above normal
temperatures for the entire state. Those outlooks also specify a slight
increase in the odds for below normal precipitation in all but northeastern
Oklahoma. The outlooks for the November-January period are much the same except
the increased chance for below normal precipitation covers the entire state.
November is Oklahoma?s sixth driest month with a statewide average of 2.78
inches. December, January and February are the state?s three driest months.

U.S. Drought Monitor and Seasonal Drought Outlook



November Outlooks



November-January Outlooks



Gary McManus
Associate State Climatologist
Oklahoma Climatological Survey
(405) 325-2253
gmcmanus@mesonet.org